Stoker-valve-operating mechanism



May 19, 1925. 7 1,538,709

' w. J. LAPWORTH STOKER YALVE OPERATING MECHANISM Filed June 5, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l gwuvntm "zl trllakworl/z Patented May 19, 1925.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM J. LAPWORTH, OF PITTSBURG, KANSAS.

STOKER-VALVE-OPERATING MECHANISM.

Application filed June 5, 1924. Serial No. 718,112.

To aZZ whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, \VILLIA J. LAP- woRTH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Crawford and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stoker-Valve-Operating Mechanism; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to the valve mechanism of a mechanical stoker, and more particularly to the actuating means whereby the valve mechanism which controls the admission of steam to the steam cylinder so as to operate the ram and feed the coal to the furnace is operated, and the object in view is to simplify the construction and materially reduce the number of working parts while at the same time admitting of inde' pendent adjustment of the operating means for each of the valves.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent and suggest themselves as the nature of the invention is understood.

lVhile the drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention it is to be understood that in adapting the same to meet different conditions and requirements, various changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the application Figure 1 is a front view of a valve mechanism for a mechanical stoker provided with operating means embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a detail sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure3 is a top plan view of the slide liar;

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line 4l4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 5 5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a detail view of the bell crank which swings freely on the valve stem;

Figure 7 is a detail View of an operating lever and pawl which is loosely mounted upon a valve stem;

Figure 8 is a detail View of a ratchet wheel which is keyed to each of the valve stems; and

Figure 9 is a detail View of the link connecting the bell crank with the slide bar.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and designated in the several views of the drawings by like reference characters.

The valve mechanism illustrated is of ordinary construction and is designated in the trade as the Cole automatic valve and has been selected to demonstrate the application of the invention as the improvements have been designed particularly for co-operation therewith. The valve mechanism comprises a frame 10 including an upright 11 in which is journaled a shaft 12 and which forms a seat for valves 13 from each of which projeets a stem 14. Said valves 13, while spe cifically forming no part of thepresent invention, in operation automatically change the speed of the fuel ram and lateral pusher rods in the said Cole automatic valve, to maintain the proper relation between the amount of air supplied and the amount of coal burned. A worm wheel 15 fast to the inner end of the shaft 12 is in mesh with a worm 16 forming part of a shaft 17 to which tight pulley 18 is fitted in'a manner well understood. A crank 19 fast to the outer end of the shaft 12 is connected by means of a pitman 20 to one arm of a bell crank 21 loose upon a valve stem 14.

A slide bar 22 is mounted in guides 23 secured to the frame 10 and is provided at intervals in its length with groups of open ings 24 in which are fitted pins 25 and 26, the pins 25 being preferably fixed whereas the pins 26 are adjustable to vary the distance between the pins 25 and 26 of each set, it being understood that a group of openings 24 and a set of pins 25 and 26 are provided for each of the valves.

A lever 27 is loosely mounted upon each of the valve stems 14 and its lower end is reduced and arranged to operate between the pins 25 and 26, provided to co-operate therewith. A pawl 28 pivoted to the upper end of each of the levers 27 is adapted to co-aot with the teeth of a ratchet wheel 29 mounted upon each of the valve stems and keyed thereto. A link 30 connects an arm of the bell crank 21 with the slidebar 22 and in the operation of the valve mechanism, a reciproeating movement imparted to the slide bar 22 oscillates the lever 27 whereby an intervmittent rotary movement is in'iparted to the several valves by means of the pawls 28 and ratchet Wheels 29 in a manner well understood. 1

WVhile the slide bars 22 receive a uniform reciprocatory movement, the several valves actuated thereby may be variably operated this being accomplished by adjusting the pins 26 of theseveral sets so as to vary the distance between the pins 25 and 26 of each of the sets.

It will be understood from the foregoing each of the valve stems, a lever loose upon each of the valve stems and adapted to be actuated by means of, the slide bar and provided with. a pawl for co;operation with the teeth of the ratchet wheels and means carried by the slide bar relatively adjustable to admit of varying the operation of the several valves. a a

2. Operating means for the valve mechanism of a mechanical stoker, the sar'necomprising a slide bar, a ratchetwheel fast to the stem of each ofthe valves, a lever looseupon each of the valve stems, a pawl pivoted to each of the levers and adapted to co-act with the teeth of the ratchet wheels, and a set of pins for each lever, said pins being.

mounted upon the slide bar and relatively adjustable to admit ofvarying the oper-- ation of the several valves.

3. Operating means for the valve mechanisinof a mechanical stoker,,the same comprising a slide bar provided with groups of openings, a set of pins 'fOD each group of openings of the slide bar, one pin of each set being fixed and the other adjustable, a ratchet wheel fast to the stem of each of the valves, and a. lever loose upon each of the valve stems and provided with a pawl adapted, to co-act with the ratchet wheel thereof, and having an end portion extending between a set of pins to be operated thereby when the slide bar is in motion.

.4. Operating means forthe valve mechanism of a. mechanical stoker, the same comprising a slide bar, abell crank loosely mounted upon: a valve stem, a link connecting an arm. ofithe bell crank with the slide bar, means for imparting an-oscillatory movement to the other arm-of the bell crank, a ratchet .wheel fast to each sof:the valve stems, anda leverloose upon each of the valve stems and provided with a pawl'to co-operate .with, the teeth of stile-"ratchet wheehand adapted to be actuated by the said slide bar" I i 5. Operating-means for the valve mechanism of a mechanicalstoker, the same comprising a slide bar provided with 'groups of openings, a set of pins for each group of openings, a bell crank loosely mounted upon-- a valve. stem, a link-connection bGtWGGlTthO slide bars and an arm of thebell crank, means for impartingan oscillatory movement to the other arm of the bellcrank, a ratchet wheel fastto each oft-he valve stems, and

a lever loose upon-each of the. valve stems and provided with a-pawl to co-operate with.

the teeth of the=ratchet wheels. and having its operative end passing between the pins of a set to be actuatedthereby.-

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two w tnesses.

WILLIAM J. LAPWORTI-h lVitnesses V. GRAY," i F. A. 'DIGKEY. 

